Will the first official football matches take place in a packed Stade de France? Postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and scheduled for late July and early August (dates and order to be determined) the French Cup (PSG-Saint-Etienne) and League Cup (PSG-Olympique Lyonnais) finals According to our information, there are intense discussions between all the actors. Their goal: to gather as many spectators as possible and, ideally, to reach the full tonnage of 80,000 people in Saint-Denis.
"This is what I asked the President of the Republic and he was not against it," said Noël Le Graët in L'Equipe on Monday. Why play the Coupe de France in front of 20,000 people? We just have to go to Châteauroux or Le Havre… ”The boss of the French Football Federation even adding that“ if the epidemic continues to decrease ”, Emmanuel Macron would make“ stronger announcements for culture, shows and sport, including football, in July ”.
The Ministry of Sports collects proposals from the FFF and LFP
On June 9 already in an interview at Figaro, the Breton leader imagined "possible" a full Stade de France for the final of the Coupe de France. As for the Professional Football League (LFP), organizer of the final of the League Cup, the last of its name, it does not publicly mention the total of 80,000 spectators. But, Sunday evening with the Canal Football Club, Nathalie Boy de la Tour, president of the LFP, said "hope" that the current gauge of 5000 people maximum "be exceeded".
Contacted on Monday, the day after the address by the President of the Republic, the Elysée Palace does not deny that the parent bodies of French football are pushing for these finals and for the resumption of official matches this summer to gather "as many spectators as possible" . The Ministry of Sports also collects proposals from these bodies, FFF and LFP, themselves in consultation with the clubs and all the French sports leagues, in order to establish an adequate health protocol.
Specifications soon to be transmitted
According to our information, the LFP must transmit very soon specifications to frame the return of the public in the stadiums for the resumption of the championships but also of the final of the League Cup. "It is above all, for us, the way supporters get to the stadium, with what means of transport," gave an example this Monday to AFP Minister Roxana Maracineanu. Before continuing, at RTL's microphone: “Today, we are all forced to use the gauge that has been proposed by the government. Now, this gauge will be brought to evolve, undoubtedly with the state of health in France ”.
However, caution is advised. At the Elysee Palace as at the Ministry of Sports, no early announcement will be made publicly before the next decisions of the Defense Council and possible new devices unveiled by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in the coming days. Above all, we are reminded that sport is not an exception and that culture (festivals, concerts, etc.) will also be affected by the possibility of larger gatherings.
"If the finals were held at the end of August, the situation might be different"
"Nothing will stand in the way of matches with 5,000 spectators," we repeat. From there to reach 20,000, 50,000 or 80,000 spectators is, at this time, "improbable", according to several sources. "If the finals took place at the end of August, the situation might be different," says a close associate, proof that the decline in the pandemic remains an important factor.
Behind the scenes, discussions around a full gauge for the two finals do exist. Supporter groups have been involved in particular since a meeting of the National Supporters' Authority was held on Monday 8 June. "We understand their expectations," says an actor in the file. In all cases, the last word will go to the Elysée Palace and the government.